In the process of creating a meaningful senior project, Cheyna Roczkowski, was inspired to create her recently successful Jane Doe Project. After attempting to bring The Vagina Monologues to Aquinas, the Jane Doe Project was the next logical step in bringing the cause to campus.

In an attempt to be even more direct about gaining awareness about violence against women, her play expresses the voices of women from the Aquinas College community who have experienced some type of sexual abuse. After interviewing these AQ women ranging from freshman students to professors, Roczkowski created a rough script to give their emotional stories a voice.

Employing nine AQ volunteers with no previous acting experience, Roczkowki’s vision began taking shape. As Roczkowski recalls, “it was the muse working,” when her fragments of ideas began evolving into a very involved and coherent project. Beginning with a bake sale to raise money, The Jane Doe Project soon generated a buzz around campus.

The efforts of Roczkowski and her Jane Doe crew soon began gaining recognition from the outside community. After The Vagina Monologues was not approved by Aquinas, the Grand Rapids Press contacted the mastermind behind The Jane Doe Project, beginning the projects continuing pattern of growing success outside Aquinas.
It is assumed that, as a result of the article in the Grand Rapids Press, Grand Valley State University first heard news about The Jane Doe Project. To the group’s surprise and honor, The Jane Doe Project was asked to perform as part of Grand Valley’s Sexual Self-Awareness Week. The performance took place this Wednesday, April 15 in the Manitou Building room 123 at the Allendale Campus.

The Jane Doe Project has raised more than $800 thus far and all donations are asked to be made out in the name of Jane Doe.

This first off-campus performance as well as the play being copyrighted signifies the bright future of this project. This future may include a performance at Hope College, a part in freshman orientation and the possibility of theatre companies performing the project after a concrete script is completed.